The potential risks of the Sarjeant Gallery project need a proper public airing, according to Wanganui district councillor Philippa Baker-Hogan.
Mrs Baker-Hogan said while the project is included in council's 2015-25 10-year plan consultation document, she was concerned about a lack of information available to the community.
A key issue for her was the estimated cost of earthquake strengthening the existing gallery building ($16 million) when other council-owned buildings such as the War Memorial Centre, Whanganui Regional Museum and Alexander Library would cost only $4.5 million in total to strengthen.
And she said she had seen little evidence confirming the $10 million government contribution through the regional museums capital construction fund. She said a letter from previous Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Chris Finlayson said the incoming minister would make the decision on Wanganui's application, and Mrs Baker-Hogan said she was "unaware of any confirmation or letter from the new minister".
"What's also lacking from the consultation document is background on the commitments council has already made and a strong premise that no ratepayer funding would be requested to complete this project. What hasn't been as transparent is that it has cost the ratepayers over $2.2 million to relocate the gallery to Taupo Quay, nearly $1 million to gain resource consent and pay professional fees for developed design and another $4 million being requested to earthquake-strengthen the Sarjeant. The projected cost of the Sarjeant extension has gone from $28 million in 2012 to a final inflation-adjusted cost of $34 million by 2019, including about $18 million to be externally fundraised to secure the $10 million government contribution," Mrs Baker-Hogan said.